The elephant meetings in the Bavarian Forest have always been something for the really tough bikers. And the first meeting after the two-year Corona break lived up to this reputation. Thousands of motorcyclists from all over Europe celebrated in snow and icy temperatures this weekend in Thurmansbang in the Freyung-Grafenau district. The organizer of the spectacle is the Federal Association of Motorcyclists (BVDM). The cold-resistant bikers have traveled from Spain, Italy, England and Poland. To warm them up quickly after the long journey, some brought logs for the campfire in their sidecars or packed the luggage racks with them. The Elephant Gathering dates back to the 1950s and was held for the 65th time. The BVDM has been organizing it in the Bavarian Forest since 1989. The reason: In contrast to the Nürburgring or the Salzburgring, where it has already taken place, it is still comparatively snow-reliable there. Incidentally, the meeting got its name from the old KS 601 sidecars from Zündapp. The primitive machines with sidecars that abounded at meetings in the 1950s were also known as “Green Elephants”.
Bavarian Forest: Meeting elephants in snow and ice – Bavaria
